line up 1 (1972)

- Les Cauchi (RIP 2020) -- percussion, backing vocals

- Shelly Davis -- keyboards

- Fred Ferrara (RIP 2011) -- guitar, trumpet, backing vocals

- Richard Grando -- sax, flute, percussion

- George Gregory -- drums, percussion, packing vocals

- Steve Goldberg -- trumpet, trombone, flugelhorn

- Johnny Maestro (RIP 2010) -- lead vocals, bass, percussion

- Jimmy Rosica -- lead guitar, bass

  supporting musicians (1972)

- Jimmy Sarle -- guitar

- Harry Yarmark -- razor blade

- The Brooklyn Bridge

Genre: pop

Rating: 2 stars **

Title:  In Blue

Company: Buddah

Catalog: BDS 5107
Year: 1972

Country/State: New York, New York

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $15.00

Perhaps because I grew up hearing their hits on the radio, I've always had a sweet spot in my heart for Johnny Maestro and The Brooklyn Bridge. 

Produced by lead singer Johnny Maestro, 1972's  "In Blue" found the Brooklyn Bridge attempting to update their profile with the abbreviated "The Bridge" nameplate and a new "band" image.  Check out the inner sleeve photo - lots of long hair, scowls and flannel shirts.  In terms of material this was definitely an odd release.  With the exception of the Jimmy Roscia original 'Man In a Band' the rest of the album consisted of outside covers.  Nothing unusual there, but what made the album strange was the fact five of the eight covers were Loudon Wainwright III songs.  At that point in time Wainwright had only released two albums with little in the way of sales, so he was an interesting source of outside material. I've always been a Wainwright fan and these guys clearly were, but that's a lot of Wainwright for most folks ... The extensive use of horns was also a change from their earlier catalog.  Imagine The Brooklyn Bridge decides they want to become Chicago ...  Sure I was happy to see the matching stage uniforms abandoned, but all told the revamped package just didn't do much for me.

"In Blue" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Bruno's Place (Loudon Wainwright III) - 4:14 rating: *** stars

The first of five Loudon Wainwright covers, the blaring, giddy Dixieland horns caught me off guard.  Similarly Maestro's goofy, good-timey vocals were unsettling,, but a perfect match for Wainwright's typically odd lyrics.  Admittedly, once you figured out what was going on the song had a certain catchy flavor and the group chorus was nice.  Probably the album's most commercial performance, Buddah tapped it as the leadoff single:

- 1972's 'Bruno's Place' b/w 'Main In a Band' (Buddha catalog number BDA-293)

2.) I Feel Free (Jack Bruce - Peter Brown) - 7:00 rating: ** stars

Yes, the group's Wainwright covers were odd, but so was there decision to take on one of Cream's best known songs.  The percussion heavy arrangement was different and it took awhile before Jimmy Rosica's bass line clued you in this was the same tune.  After that Maestro's supper club vocals and the horn-heavy arrangement basically slaughtered the song.  Probably a Cream cover most folks can avoid.  Always wondered why Buddah thought this would be a good song to release as a promotional single.  Even without the horn solos it was a poor selection.

- 1972's 'I Feel Free (mono)' b/w 'I Feel Free (stereo)' (Buddah catalog number BDA 317)

3.) School Days (Loudon Wainwriight III) - 3:30 rating: ** stars

With nice harmonies 'School Days' was a pretty, but forgettable ballad.  Hardly one of Wainwright's creative zeniths.

4.) Baby What You Want Me To Do (Jimmy Reed) - 4:45 rating: *** stars

Nothing wrong with a band taking on a Jimmy Reed tune, but what's the point if you are going to totally eradicate the songs blues roots?  As a pop song I guess it wasn't bad. but it wasn't like any other Jimmy Reed song I've heard.  Yeah, a tad too Blood, Sweat and Tears-ish for my tastes.  

5.) Glad To See You Got Religion (Loudon Wainwriight III) - 4:00  rating: *** stars

The Bridge's acoustic cover of 'Glad To See You Got Religion' wasn't markedly different than the original.  Wainwright lyrics are always worth a spin which raises the question why you'd want to hear the cover when the original was readily out there.  

(side 2)
1.) Uptown (Loudon Wainwriight III) - 4:30  rating: *** stars

Opening up with a nice bass pattern, 'Uptown' struck me as the best of their five Wainwright covers.  The Dixieland horns and Maestro's vocal always reminded me of his performance on the earlier 'Bruno's Place.'

2.) Hospital Lady (Loudon Wainwriight III) - 4:52 rating: ** stars

Completed with treated Maestro vocals, their jazzy cover of 'Hospital Lady' was easily the weirdest Wainwright cover.  In fact, this was the album's strangest performance.

3.) Man In a Band (Jimmy Rosica) - 11:21  rating: *** stars

Who would have ever thought a pop band like The Brooklyn Bridge would recorded an eleven minute tune?  Apparently autobiographical, 'Man In a Band' was the album's most conventional rocker.  Thanks to the extended horn solos, it went on far too long for it's own good, but was still one of the album's isolated highlights..

© 06/2024 Scott R. Blackerby